The regional coordinator even said to us, I dont know why you were rushed here because we dont need you. They told us to go to the Walmart nearby or to check out the area but told us to stay out of the areas affected by the storm. If our boss back at headquarters had not been alerted and didnt make a push to get us assignments, the people running the show on the ground level would have just kept us sitting in the barracks.
A Washington administrator admitted in an email:
My people are being told to go sightseeing. They may have a mission in 2-4 days .... I am asking them to reach out to contacts there that may be able to use their expertise ... We will continue to seek these opportunities as otherwise these personnel resources will be wasted ... Please advise way ahead ...
more at FEMA Teams Told to 'Sightsee' as Sandy Victims Suffered